Photo by Mikael Kennedy
Sad news to pass along today, as Dave Lamb of Rhode Island folk duo Brown Bird has died at the age of 35. Lamb had been fighting leukemia for the past year, and earlier today, his partner in life and music, MorganEve Swain, posted the following message to social media:
Dear friends,
Over the past year, and especially this past week, I have been so overwhelmed and grateful for the amount of love that has surrounded Dave and me throughout our life and career together. You all have posted so many beautiful stories about Dave — how humble he was, how gracious, how talented…He certainly was all those things.
Four days after Dave and I met we became bandmates, lovers and business partners, and set the tone for what our life would be for the next six years. We never imagined the amount of success we would enjoy in those years, how many incredible friendships would be forged, the experiences we would share, and nothing could have prepared us for the events of this past year.
Dave entered the battle with leukemia as only Dave could — determined, steadfast, smiling and always with his mind on our future. His incredible ability to continue writing through his struggle is something I’ll forever aspire to.
This week was the toughest in the battle, as Dave’s body began to shut down under the stress of a year-long fight and a sudden and aggressive leukemic relapse.
Today, surrounded by his family and so many friends, Dave peacefully let go.
Thank you for all the love you’ve all shown us. It helped so very much to know we had an army behind us.
Love and gratitude,
MorganEve
Last June, Hilary Hughes of the Boston Globe did a Q&A with Lamb that discussed his diagnosis as well as the fan, friend, and family reaction, as a YouCaring fundraiser page had brought in nearly $70,000. After he fell ill, Brown Bird’s record release party at Brighton Music Hall in Allston was recast as a fundraiser, with performances by friends Tallahassee, Joe Fletcher & the Wrong Reasons and Coyote Kolb.
Personally, I had only met Lamb once, a few years ago at Newport Folk Festival. He was kind and gracious, and even played a few songs in the media tent for Boston Phoenix crew.
Here are the videos from that day: